ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey has been granted a waiver of around 25 percent on U.S. oil sanctions against Iran, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday, amounting to around three million tonnes of oil annually.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster NTV, Donmez said oil refiner Tupras <TUPRS.IS> was looking at alternatives to avoid any market difficulties. He said the 25 percent figure was approximate and Ankara had not yet received an exact figure.

He also said Turkey still had a contract to buy natural gas from Iran for five to six years and added that Ankara would continue to buy gas from Tehran.